SAN JOSE — Though public opinion is divided over President Obama”s upcoming immigration-relief plan, there”s no dispute over one thing: Scam artists stand to profit big time.

To limit the damage, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen on Monday launched an effort to help families who are applying for protection from deportation to also avoid being defrauded by businesses offering phony legal services. The Mexican consulate, county Supervisor Cindy Chavez and leading nonprofits, including Catholic Charities, are aiding in the effort.

Starting Tuesday, Josue Fuentes, a Spanish-speaking prosecutor, will give at least 14 free, evening seminars at local schools, libraries and community centers, about how to find legitimate, low-cost lawyers and consultants — and what to watch out for. Obama”s plan is set to kick off about four months from now, in late May.

Rosen has also commissioned a documentary filmmaker for $5,000 to make a public service announcement warning of the fraud risk, which he hopes local movie theaters will show.

“We take it seriously when criminals seek to take advantage of the hopes and vulnerabilities of families striving to make a home for themselves in this county,” Rosen said in a written statement. “Our mission is to seek justice for every resident of Santa Clara County, not just some of them.”

Similar campaigns are being launched in other cities, including Baltimore, Los Angeles, Detroit, Portland, Seattle and Dallas. In Santa Clara County, prospective applicants will be steered to agencies offering low-cost or free counseling or legal services, including Sacred Heart Community Services, SIREN (Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network) and the Asian Law Alliance.

Hustlers are expected to take advantage of the complexity of applying for Obama”s plan, particularly for people who are in the country illegally and don”t speak English well. The plan offers deportation deferrals for three years at a time for undocumented parents of American citizens or legal permanent residents who have been in the country for at least five years. It also expands a deportation relief program for people who were brought into the country as children.

Successful applicants will be able to get work permits, as well as travel outside the U.S.

Fuentes said a typical scam involves applicants with a parent who falls deathly ill in their native country. Taking advantage of the applicants” desperation to get home, unscrupulous “notarios”” will counsel them to fill out forms inaccurately, charging them thousands of dollars for the bad advice. Applicants not only lose their money, Fuentes said, they also may be disqualified from reapplying for filing a false application.

“This crime goes unreported the majority of the time,” Fuentes said. “We want to get out ahead of it.”